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Equality secretary sees spike in abuse of women

One in three women has been a victim of physical abuse this year, the country’s general secretary for gender equality, Vasso Kollia, said on Friday at the official inauguration of a municipal counseling center for women in Kavala, northern Greece.

Violence against women has also risen by almost half this year compared to last, Kollia said, adding that husbands and boyfriends make up the majority of the attackers.

“These incidents are going on in our country; not Greece of the old days but Greece in 2013,” said Kollia. “It is a phenomenon that modern Greek society must effectively control so that we can start to explore our stance as citizens and fellow humans.”

The Kavala shelter has been running since June 3 and is already providing support to 25 women who are victims of abuse. “Abuse has many faces, like financial blackmail, sexual humiliation, injury and rape,” Kollia said. “In each case, the violence is evident.”